Tomiki (Sport) Aikido Club of the University of Toronto

Aikido or "the way in harmony with ki" is a classic, yet modern Japanese martial art, whose origin is traditionally attributed to the famous twelfth century warrior-general Shinra Saburo Yoshimitsu. [The term 'ki' may be loosely translated as the cosmic spirit or the universal force.] This martial art was transmitted in the Takeda clan till 1575, after which it was practiced in the province of Aizu. Teaching of this martial art to outsiders was strictly forbidden till the latter part of the nineteenth century, when feudal provinces were abolished in Japan. Takeda Sokaku (or Sokaku Takeda by the U.S. convention), one of its last fully licensed practitioners, started teaching outside the Aizu province, calling it Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu (sometimes also known as Yamato-ryu jujutsu). One of his outstanding students, Morihei Ueshiba, taught it as aiki-jujutsu; he then changed the name to aiki-bujutsu, and later to aikido. It is the latter name by which this martial art has become best known.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morihei Ueshiba met Sokaku Takeda in the town of Engaru in Hokkaido in 1916 and studied Daitoryu Aikijujutsu under him. In 1917 he received formal instruction and certification in a list of techniques called Hiden Ogi no Koto. In 1923 in Ayabe he completed another series of instruction and was formally certified in a list of techniques called Aikijujutsu Hiden Ogi no Koto and as a result, on the 15th December 1923, he was given permission to teach Daitoryu Aikijujutsu as an instructor. Ueshiba's Aiki Budo became established as a form of educational Budo. Between 1940 and 1942 Ueshiba himself visited Manchuria and demonstrated his prowess in Aiki Budo. In 1940 he adopted the 'Dan' grade system and made Tomiki Sensei his first 8th dan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenji Tomiki first studied judo under Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan judo, and began practicing aiki-jujutsu under Morihei Ueshiba with the encouragement of Kano himself. In 1938, Tomiki became the first of Ueshiba's students to receive menkyo-kaiden, the ultimate certification in the Japanese martial arts. Kenji Tomiki developed his efficient aikido training system applying the twin principles of judo, "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" and "Mutual Benefit" enunciated by Professor Jigoro Kano. Both Professors Kano and Tomiki were outstanding educators, Kano as President of a prestigious college (which has become the Tsukuba University) and Tomiki as Professor at the Waseda University.